Seven craft-brew meccas that are revolutionizing the way we drink hops. In a great way. Plus: the bars, restaurants, and pubs you should visit to really enjoy them.By Evan S. Benn

Chicago

Chicago

Sure, the bleacher seats at Wrigley Field are still awash in Bud Light, but the Second City's craft-brew scene is overflowing — and still expanding. Across the street from the ballpark, Goose Island's Wrigleyville brewpub pours everything from its easy-drinking Green Line Pale Ale, a new brew, to its knock-you-on-your-ass Bourbon County Stout, which weighs in at 13.5 percent alcohol by volume. In the Wicker Park neighborhood, Piece is worth a visit for its exceptional, New Haven-style pizzas and house-made beers (I dig the award-winning Golden Arm, a German-style kolsch). At the Publican restaurant in the West Loop, Cicerone-certified servers — the equivalent of wine sommeliers — oversee a beer list that includes worldly selections from Belgium, Germany, and France, as well as local options from Chicago's Metropolitan Brewing Co. and Indiana's Three Floyds Brewing Co.

Denver

Denver

There's a reason that brewers and beer fanatics descend upon Denver each year for the Great American Beer Festival: It's smack-dab in the center of craft-beer country. Despite being in Coors's back yard, brewpubs and beer bars here often pour the very best Colorado has to offer, from New Belgium in Fort Collins to Ska and Steamworks in Durango. Wynkoop Brewing Co. operates Denver's oldest brewpub, established in 1988, which has beers and food to make anyone happy. If you like it hot, try Wynkoop's house-brewed Patty's Chile Beer, a light German-style beer made with Anaheim chiles and smoked Ancho peppers. You also can't go wrong at the Falling Rock Taphouse, located half a block from Coors Field. With more than 75 beers on tap and scores more in bottles, drinking locally isn't the challenge — it's getting through everything that you'll have trouble with.